Liturgy of the Palms
Celebrant Hosanna to the Son of David, the King of Israel.
People Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Dear brothers and sisters, from the beginning of Lent until now we have been preparing our hearts by repentance and self-sacrifice. Today, with the whole Church, we herald the beginning of the celebration of the Paschal Mystery. On this day our Lord Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem and was welcomed as King with palms and shouts of praise. Today we greet him as our King, though we know his crown was a crown of thorns, and his throne a Cross.
Therefore, I invite you to follow our Lord this Holy Week, from his triumphal entry, through his suffering and death, to the glory of his resurrection.
Celebrant The Lord be with you.
People And with your spirit.
Celebrant Let us pray.
Assist us mercifully with your help, O Lord God of our salvation, that we may enter with joy upon the contemplation of those mighty acts, whereby you have given us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
All standing, the Deacon or Priest reads the Triumphal Entry Gospel, first saying
Deacon The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to ________.
People Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Matthew 21:1–11 (ESV)
1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,
5 “Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ ”
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”
Deacon The Gospel of the Lord.
People Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Celebrant then says
Let us pray.
We praise you, Almighty God, for the acts of love by which you have redeemed us through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. On this day he entered the holy city of Jerusalem in triumph, and was hailed as King by those who spread their garments and branches of palm along his way. Sanctify these branches with your blessing, we humbly pray, that they may be for us signs of his victory. Grant that we who bear them in his Name may ever hail him as our King, and follow him in the way that leads to eternal life; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Celebrant Hosanna to the Son of David, the King of Israel.
People Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
THE PROCESSION
Deacon Let us go forth in peace.
People In the Name of Christ. Amen.